Homesick Teen Survives 5-Hour Flight In The Wheel Of A Plane

A Somali teen surprised officials when he was found stowing away on a flight from California to Hawaii. Reports say he was homesick for his mother and ran away from his Santa Clara home after a fight with his father and stepmother. According to CNN.com:

The 15-year-old boy sneaked into the wheel well of a Boeing 767 and flew from San Jose, California, to Maui, Hawaii.

“He was really soft-spoken and appeared to be tired. His answers were a little slow initially coming out,” Maui District Airport Manager Marvin Moniz told CNN affiliate KGO. “We did get him some food prior to the paramedics getting here. We asked if he was hungry. He indicated yes he was. We got him some teriyaki meatballs and rice and a package of cookies and a bottle of water,” Moniz said.

According to a state health official, the teen is recovering at a Hawaii hospital. Read more.

Authorities were amazed that the teenager survived the five-hour flight. According to reports, temperatures dropped well below zero. Oxygen levels diminished and the plane ascended higher than the peak of Mount Everest. Roland Martin and the “NewsOne Now” panel took on the story. Listen to what they had to say.